Kane Williamson. Photo: photosport
Batting great Kane Williamson is set to play his first match for the Black Caps in more than seven months after being named for the ODI series against England.
Williamson and all-rounder Nathan Smith return to the New Zealand side for the three-match series starting in in Tauranga on Sunday after winning inclusion in the 14-man squad.
The last time 35-year-old Williamson played for his country was in the ODI Champions Trophy final loss to India in Dubai in March.
The veteran has been recovering from a minor medical issue in the past month, meaning he missed the T20 series loss against the Australia and the current T20 series against England.
Smith has also be available while recovering from an abdominal injury.
Black Caps coach Rob Walter said the pair were welcome inclusions.
"Kane and Nathan have had to work hard to overcome their respective injuries and illness," he said.
"We all know what Kane means to the Black Caps - to have his skill, experience and leadership back in the group is fantastic.
"Nathan's still relatively new to his international career, but he's impressed with his all-round skills and ability in the field."
Nathan Smith. Photo: photosport
Williamson needs 112 runs to move ahead of Martin Guptill on the all-time Black Caps ODI run-scoring list, with only Ross Taylor and Stephen Fleming sitting ahead of that pair.
Walter said the series marked the start of the second-ranked New Zealand ODI side's pathway towards the ODI World Cup in South Africa in 2027.
Captain Mitchell Santner will lead a stable squad, with seamer Zak Foulkes the only player included who wasn't part of the Champions Trophy campaign, with injured pair Will O'Rourke (back) and Glenn Phillips (groin) the only players missing from that squad.
Others unavailable for selection because of injury are Finn Allen (foot), Lockie Ferguson (hamstring), Adam Milne (ankle) and Ben Sears (hamstring).
Foulkes, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry will form the seam attack with Santner, Smith, Michael Bracewell, and Rachin Ravindra the all-rounders.
Williamson joins Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Ravindra, and Will Young as the specialist batters, with Tom Latham the wicket-keeper-batsman.
Black Caps squad:
Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
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